Do i need a soundcard?

[Maccord]

hi I am choosing parts for a new system and I need your help: I have chosen a sabertooth motherboard and I thought about buying xonar phoebus, because I need a good ingame sound. Do I need this soundcard or not ?

[Excon]

It depends on you headphones. The Phoebus however is a terrible soundcard with many issues.

[DBells94]

not really, onboard audio should be good enough

[Intervalence]

It really really depends... If you have decent above average headphones that will actually benefit from a better  more cleaner source, then sure. But if you don't you can get much cheaper usb headphones that provide great 7.1 surround sound, if that's what your after since you didnt say you listen to music.

[Intervalence]

It depends on you headphones. The Phoebus however is a terrible soundcard with many issues.

Yep, dreadful. STX is better.

[Maccord]

thx

[xyza]

I'm pretty sure motherboard manufacturers (or maybe just Realtek, or both) have been improving audio since sandy bridge released, some motherboards even support up to 600Ohms on the Haswell motherboards like the Z87 XPOWER from MSI.

 

Now comparing the audio quality with a new one is something I haven't done since I own an old motherboard (x58 ud7)

[Feveredbike]

Your on-board sound should really be fine. If you do plan on getting a soundcard, most people will recommend an external one such as the Fiio E10, which will eliminate potential interference from the inside of your computer.

[EmoRarity]

Yep, dreadful. STX is better.

No. No it isn't, they have identical problems. 

[mr moose]

It really really depends... If you have decent above average headphones that will actually benefit from a better  more cleaner source, then sure. But if you don't you can get much cheaper usb headphones that provide great 7.1 surround sound, if that's what your after since you didnt say you listen to music.

a sound card does not produce a notably better or more clearer source than onboard.  

[Intervalence]

a sound card does not produce a notably better or more clearer source than onboard.  

Really? I thought an external one did  :unsure:

[Tr3vor]

Get an AdLib

 

[mr moose]

Really? I thought an external one did  :unsure:

There are just as many crappy usb dacs as there are sound cards.  SQ comes down to design not form factor. 

[Intervalence]

There are just as many crappy usb dacs as there are sound cards.  SQ comes down to design not form factor. 

Okay

[Guest]

Really? I thought an external one did  :unsure:

 

Louder, usually, not better.

 

For all the expense I wouldn't say it's worth it.  If they money's burning a hole in your pocket then spend it on some better headphones.

[Intervalence]

Louder, usually, not better.

 

For all the expense I wouldn't say it's worth it.  If they money's burning a hole in your pocket then spend it on some better headphones.

Thanks for the helpful response 

[ShearMe]

Buying a soundcard is like buying a GTX Titan to run Microsoft Office.